Families & Chameleon Volunteer Program
Educational Rights of Families & Students Experiencing Housing Instability
Families experiencing homelessness are protected by a federal law called the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Homelessness may include these situations:
- Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of housing, an economic hardship, or similar circumstances
- Living in temporary housing, such as a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground, due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations
- Living in an emergency or transitional shelter or having been abandoned in a hospital
- Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live in, such as a car
Students experiencing homelessness have the right to the following:
- Immediately enroll in school, attend classes, and participate in all school activities, even if they do not have their school records, medical records, or any other documents schools ask for during the enrollment process
- Stay in their school of origin, or the school in which they were last enrolled before becoming homeless if it is in their best interest to do so to be successful in school
- Attend the local school closest to where the family currently lives, if it is in the best interest of the student
- Receive transportation assistance to and from school
- Receive assistance with obtaining a school uniform, if wearing a uniform is required by the school
- Request help from the local homeless liaison for other kinds of support, such as medical, dental, mental, and other health-related services
If you are experiencing housing instability and are interested in additional support and resources, please fill out and submit this form or contact the Creative Minds homeless liaison, natalia.mcgee@creativemindspcs.org. We respect each family’s right to privacy and will keep shared information confidential.
Chameleon Volunteer Program
At Creative Minds, we believe our community is strongest when families and staff work together. The Chameleon Volunteer Program invites families to get involved, connect with teachers, and help make our events and classrooms thrive!
Classroom volunteers serve as the liaison between teachers and families in their assigned rooms—helping to share updates, coordinate activities, and build a sense of community. Chameleon Volunteers also lend their energy and creativity during events like:
- Exit Point Presentations: Join us in the classroom as students showcase what they have learned from each unit of study.
- Literacy & STEAM Family Nights: Participate in fun, hands-on activities designed to enhance literacy and STEAM learning for the whole family.
- Parent Workshops: Attend workshops focused on timely topics and strategies to support your child’s development at every age.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences: Gain valuable insights into your child’s academic growth and progress through regular conferences.
- Community Meetings: Come together monthly to celebrate students’ growth and achievements based on our personal goals.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Get involved as a room parent or volunteer to chaperone field trips and other school events.
We stay connected through a variety of channels, including our monthly school newsletter, weekly updates, classroom newsletters, and our Facebook and Instagram pages. Upcoming meetings and events can be found on the school calendar, and all volunteer communication is shared through our school’s communication app, ParentSquare.
To volunteer, families must have an active background clearance. If you’d like to be ready for future opportunities—such as helping with a trip or becoming a Chameleon Volunteer—you can email your completed clearance to familyengagement@creativemindspcs.org.
How to Obtain a Clearance
Partner: Metro Lab
Cost: $79
What to Bring: A valid photo ID
Location: 3422 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
🌿 Join Us!
Become a Chameleon Volunteer and make a difference in our school community.
Have Questions?
familyengagement@creativemindspcs.org